North Carolina HiSET® Exam Requirements

The following policies apply to anyone taking the HiSET® exam in the state of North Carolina. When you schedule an appointment, you will need to confirm that you have read and understand these policies.

How do I pay for the HiSET exam if I am scheduling my appointment by phone?

If you are scheduling by phone, you may pay by debit card or credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA and JCB Card).

You can't use a PayPal account to pay over the phone.

Note: A $10 fee will be applied when registering by phone.

What is the refund policy?

The refund policy is as follows:

You are eligible for a full refund of your test fee if you cancel at any time up until 11:59 p.m. local time the day before your scheduled appointment.

If you are absent or arrive too late to take the test at the test administration scheduled, you are not entitled to a refund. If the missed appointment was made using one of your retake credits, the credit will not be returned to you.

What if something unexpected happens on test day, I don't cancel and I cannot make my scheduled appointment? Can I get a refund?

ETS understands that things happen that are outside your control and has processes in place to evaluate and approve refunds for ETS-collected HiSET test fees. Exception cases are handled and evaluated for refund eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Exception cases refer to:

events caused by ETS, the test center or tester

events beyond the control of all parties

Testing Options

Can I take the HiSET exam on paper or computer?

The HiSET exam is available in both computer- and paper-delivered formats in North Carolina. However, both formats are not available at every test center. Make sure you verify that the format you prefer is available at your selected test center before scheduling your testing appointment.

If I scheduled a paper-delivered test, can I change my mind and take the test on a computer?

Yes, as long as the test center offers both formats. However, you must make the change at least three days prior to your originally scheduled test, not including your appointment day or the day of your request. If you scheduled a paper test and would now prefer to take a computer test instead, you must cancel the paper test and schedule a new computer testing appointment. The same is true if you would like to switch from a computer test to a paper test. You cannot show up at the test center on the day of your scheduled appointment expecting to be able to make the change at the test center.

If I started testing in paper-delivered format, can I switch or retake my remaining subtests in computer-delivered format?

You can switch test formats for your remaining subtests; however, retake credits may only be used for the same format as the original test.

Note: Retake credits issued before January 1, 2019, may be used for either computer- or paper-delivered formats, regardless of the format of the original test.

If I started testing in English, can I switch to or retake my remaining subject tests in Spanish?

No. Once you start testing in one language, you will have to complete and pass the battery in the same language. The same applies if you start testing in Spanish.

How do I request accommodations so I can be successful on the HiSET exam?

If you have a disability or health-related needs, you need to request accommodations prior to scheduling your test appointment. For more information, see Disability Accommodations.

Scheduling an Appointment

Once you are ready to take the test, you can schedule your testing appointment in one of two ways:

online through your HiSET account

by calling ETS Customer Service

To reschedule your appointment, you may call an ETS representative 1-855-MyHiSET (1-855-694-4738) or contact your test center. Read the policies on rescheduling, canceling or retaking the test included on this page.

Yes, but it is not recommended. Your performance on the test may be negatively affected by taking all of them in one day. Taking the subtests on different days helps you to approach each one feeling rested and prepared.

If I am 16 years old, can I schedule an appointment to take the HiSET exam?

To avoid forfeiting your test fee, you must reschedule your appointment any time up until 11:59 p.m. local time the day before your scheduled appointment.

You have 12 months from the day you schedule your appointment to reschedule. For example, if you schedule in November 2015 for a test date at any time in the future, your reschedule date must be before November 2016.

You can reschedule each subtest as many times as needed, free of charge.

Testing fees and registrations are not interchangeable between paper-delivered and computer-delivered tests. For instance, if you scheduled a paper test and need to take a computer test instead, you must cancel the paper test and schedule a new computer testing appointment.

What are the cancellation policies?

You can cancel your appointment at any time. However, depending on when you cancel, you may forfeit your HiSET fee. See refund policies information above.

You can contact your test center to cancel your appointment. You can also do it online through your HiSET account or by calling ETS Customer Service at 1-855-MyHiSET (1-855-694-4738).

If you have a disability or health-related need and you require testing accommodations, you must call ETS to cancel your appointment at 1-855-802-2748 (1-855-694-4738) (toll-free), Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.

What are the retest policies?

You may test on each subtest three times during a calendar year.

You may retest at any time you determine you are ready for another attempt. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of additional preparation and instruction provided free at all 58 North Carolina community colleges before scheduling your retest.

Retake credits may only be used for the same test format as the original test.

Test Day

What do I need to bring on the day of my test?

You will need to bring:

Acceptable and valid ID as required by North Carolina. It must be current (not expired) and must include your signature. Make sure your name on your ID appears EXACTLY as it does on the profile you created in your HiSET account when you scheduled your HiSET exam. You must bring your ID with you to the test center each time you test.

Layered clothing that will allow you to adapt to a range of room temperatures.

You do not need to be a resident of North Carolina to take the HiSET exam in North Carolina, so you do not need to provide proof of residency.

Please note: Cell phones, smartphones (e.g., Android®, BlackBerry® or iPhone® devices, etc.), PDAs and/or any other electronic, photographic, scanning, recording or listening devices are not permitted at the test center at all. See What to Bring for a list of additional items not permitted in the testing session.

What do I do if I have health-related needs that require an exception to the test center policies?

If you have a health-related need requiring you to bring equipment, beverages or snacks into the testing room or to take extra or extended breaks, you need to request accommodations in advance. Procedures for requesting accommodations are described in Disability Accommodations.

Scores

How do I know if I've passed the HiSET exam?

Each of the five subtests in the HiSET exam is scored on a scale of 1–20. In order to pass you must do all three of the following:

achieve a score of at least 8 on each of the five individual subtests

score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay portion of the writing test

have a total combined score on all five subtests of at least 45

Some states may set passing scores that are higher, but under no circumstances can you pass with a total score lower than 45 on the exam.

What does my individual test scoring report tell me?

For each individual test scoring report, it indicates:

your score, the total possible score and whether you passed

the minimum score required to pass

the percentage of items you answered correctly

your college- and career-readiness score

What does passing mean?

Candidates who have received a passing score on the HiSET exam have demonstrated a level of performance that exceeds the minimum level of performance typically required to graduate from high school.

How should I interpret my score?

If the HiSET exam were to be administered to a random sample of high school seniors, it is estimated that approximately 60 percent would pass on the first attempt. If you receive a score of 45 or higher we estimate that you would be in approximately the top 40 percent of graduating high school seniors nationally.

How are passing rates determined?

A score equivalency table was established between the HiSET exam and a nationally administered high school equivalency examination. Passing rates (60 percent) were chosen so as to be roughly equivalent to those on the nationally administered examination.

Did I demonstrate college and career readiness?

Your individual test score report also indicates whether or not you have achieved the score required to demonstrate college and career readiness — with at least 15 out of 20 on any of the subtests. For the Language Arts – Writing test, you must score at least a total score of 15 with a 4 on the essay.

What does college and career readiness mean?

Students who have scored at the college- and career-readiness level have shown a level of performance similar to the minimum level required to succeed in college-level credit-bearing courses.

What information is provided so I can try to improve my score on the HiSET exam?

On the HiSET subtests, questions are grouped into content categories. To help you in future study or in preparing to retake the test, your individual test score report shows the percentage of items answered correctly in each content category. This information might suggest areas where it would be worthwhile to concentrate your efforts.

How do I challenge my scores?

If you feel your HiSET scores were reported incorrectly or do not accurately reflect your performance, you can have them reviewed for a fee. The following score review services are available:

Constructed-response (Essay) Scoring Review — $25 per essay

A trained scorer will review your essay and original score received to determine whether it is consistent with HiSET Language Arts Writing test scoring rules. If there is a change in your score, the new score (which may be higher or lower than your originally reported score) will be reported to you and your state or jurisdiction, and your score review fee will be refunded. Your essay is not available for disclosure. Please note that each essay will be reviewed only once. This service is available for both computer- and paper-delivered tests.

Multiple-choice Scoring Review — $25 per test

Paper-delivered Tests — Multiple-choice responses will be hand scored by our trained Resolutions team. If there is a change in your score, the score will be reported to you and your state or jurisdiction, and your score review fee will be refunded. Your test responses are not available for disclosure. Please note that each test will be reviewed only once.

Computer-delivered Tests — Computer-delivered tests will not be reviewed because those answers are scored once at the test center, then transmitted to ETS where they are verified before being reported.

To request either of the services listed above, please call ETS Customer Service at 1-855-MyHiSET (1-855-694-4738).